Ilocos Norte sustains P38.26 M in damage to agriculture from El Niño
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The provincial government of Ilocos Norte, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), reported an initial P38.2 million in damage to agriculture due to the El Niño phenomenon.
Engr. Maria Teresa Bacnat, head of the OPAG, said 861.84 hectares planted to rice were affected, most of which are in Bacarra with 160.08 hectares.
Other areas with affected rice farms were Bangui, Burgos, Pagudpud, Pasuquin, Piddig, Vintar, Badoc, Banna, Dingras, Nueva Era, Batac City, and Laoag City.
Bacnat said 2,246 farmers in the province were affected by El Niño and they have been urged to grow short-term and drought-resistant crops due to insufficient water for irrigation.
To mitigate the impact of El Niño on farmers, the provincial government has distributed 140 water pumps, fuel subsidies, 103 small farm reservoirs (SFR), 285 units of water-harvesting facilities, 37 irrigation hoses, and spring development totaling P15.4 million.
Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), has distributed at least 400 drums and pails in Solsona.
Solsona and Dingras have been placed under a state of calamity due to prolonged dry spell.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is currently conducting water rationing in the two towns.
The governor called on the people of this province to conserve water and use rainwater harvesting facilities to gather water for non-drinking purposes such as gardening, washing clothes, dishes, and vehicles, and flushing toilets.